Is The Plastic Used in Keurig K-Cups Safe?

by Editorial Staff | Updated on April 1st, 2023

I love using my K-Cup brewer for convenience, but I have some reservations about the K-Cups’ plastic. Plastic is a concern for both health and environmental reasons. When I purchase plastic materials, I have to ask myself, do any chemicals leach out? In our k-cup scenario, will I take in chemicals when I drink a cup of coffee using my Keurig coffee machine?

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Is K-Cup plastic BPA Free?

If you’re worried about BPA in particular.

The short answer to this is YES. There is no BPA in those K-cups.

What is BPA?

(BPA is the acronym for Bisphenol A, a common ingredient used to treat food and water in many plastics. It gets in the news now and then because of concerns, contrary to the FDA’s findings, it may be unsafe.)

Here’s a more detailed answer to your concerns:

Three key elements compose the K-Cup package: the cup itself, an aluminum foil top, and a filter paper sheet.
The cups are also not recyclable, but they’re working on it.
Technically, the plastic in the cups is #7, which means it’s a mixture of plastics. This is what makes recycling a problem. However, it also makes it bulletproof in terms of the coffee inside being protected and preserved.
It is Nitrogen-flushed, sealed for freshness, and impervious to oxygen and humidity.

Do K cups have chemicals in them?

K-Cups have been reported to be BPA-free and made of “safe” plastic, although some studies have found that even this type of substance can have adverse effects when heated.

Are the K-Cups recyclable?

Keurig announced on their website:

By the end of 2020, 100% of our K-Cup^® pods will be recyclable. We’ve spent years completing intensive testing, development, and supply chain transition to produce a product that is not only recyclable, but can actually be recycled. We chose polypropylene (#5 plastic) because it is widely accepted for curbside recycling in a majority of communities across North America and there is growing demand for it as a recycled material. Imagine the possibilities of what your empty recyclable K-Cup^® pod could become next!

So how do you recycle K-cups after you use them?

Just follow these easy steps to recycle them:

It’s hot! Let the K-cup cool completely after brewing.
Next, remove the foil lid and recycle it with aluminum.
Next, recycle coffee grounds with compost. Or here are more ways you can reuse coffee grounds.
Finally, put the pod (#5) with your plastic recycling.

Other FAQs about Keurig and plastic concerns

I am not sure if the water heating chamber or the k pods are made of BPA? I haven’t noticed a recycle sign on them, and I am curious about it.

They (Keurig) use a variety of plastics, with some containing BPA. As you may be aware, however, the FDA has recently revised its BPA-related safety standards and affirmatively confirmed that products currently on the market containing BPA are safe. You may want to check out the following link for more information on this latest FDA pronouncement.

Does the Keurig Brewer Cold Water reservoir produce any BPAs?

The cold water tanks of the Keurig brewers do not produce BPA.

Is Keurig K Cups environmentally friendly?

With the recyclable K-cup on its way to your home, it can be. But, until then, if you already have Keurig, there is an easy way to reduce the everyday coffee waste: invest in eco-friendly K-Cups or recycled or reusable K-Cups which is a more sustainable option.

Why does my Keurig taste like plastic?

Keurig’s plastic flavor derives from hot water contacting the coffee maker’s plastic pieces. Also, for older equipment, the build-up of minerals in the water will affect the flavor of the coffee and add to the plastic taste or smell.

Besides the Cold Water Tank, are there any pieces of the Keurig coffee maker that come into contact with the BPA-containing beverage?

They use several plastics, and some of the pieces that come into contact with the beverage include BPA. However, as you may be informed, the FDA has recently revised its quality guidelines relating to BPA and has once again confirmed in the affirmative that BPA-containing goods currently on the market are safe. Please see the following link for more information on this latest FDA announcement. We also periodically review the materials used in our products to ensure that they are safe and follow or surpass the relevant FDA requirements.

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links, which means I may receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase using these links. Remember to support us by purchasing through the Amazon/Walmart/Impact Radius links provided. Last update on 2025-01-23 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Disclosure: No compensation or free products were received in exchange for writing this review.

Editorial Staff

The editorial staff at Crazy Coffee Crave is a team of coffee enthusiasts & Baristas who enjoy the one thing we all think about as soon as we get up in the morning. Trusted by thousands of readers worldwide.